Ralph Nader, right, called Matt Funiciello "Democracy's Baker" at an appearance at the Charles Wood Theater in Glens Falls on Sunday, Sept. 14. Polls show Funiciello at 10 percent.

GLENS FALLS — While the leaves may be changing color, the North Country got a shot of green on Sunday when Ralph Nader stumped for Congressional candidate Matt Funiciello in Glens Falls.

In a speech to supporters at the Rare Earth Wine Bar, Nader delivered a scathing rebuke to a political system that he said has been taken over by corporations and urged attendees to take back the reins of government.

As long as a majority of the public has support for issues — like ending empire, single-payer health care, environmental health, corporate welfare— then it can be done, he said.

“MAJORITARIAN ISSUES”

The firebrand said while these issues fall within the viewpoints of between 70-80 percent of the American public, the country’s political system has been held captive by one percent of the population.

For instance, increasing the federal minimum wage is supported by Republicans in Alabama, he said.

Wal-Mart workers make less than they did in 1968.

“These are majoritarian issues,” he said. “When you go to where people work and raise their families, we live in the same reality. Rightwingers bleed, too.”

Nader recalled taking on the auto industry in the early-1960s. His polemic, Unsafe at Any Speed, sparked Congress' unanimous passage of the 1966 National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act.

Such measures are still possible today, he said.

“We used to whip these industries. Once we knew people were behind the issues, then we let Congress know and they took action.”

Nader was 32 when he kickstarted the process.

“I lost a lot of friends. Some were killed, others were turned into paraplegics. It was grisly — decapitations, blood, screams, silence.”

He called contemporary politicians “dittoheads.”

“They’re not talking about the real issues, about civic skills and training in schools. They’re not talking about what’s going on in our communities or contaminated water from fracking.”

He said these issues need to be rebranded to reflect the self-interest of elected officials in order for them to start paying attention.

BREAKING THE ROUTINE

“What’s the best media that’s the cheapest?” he asked.

Word of mouth.

“Anybody can do it,” said Nader. “It’s free and you’re doing it to people who know you.”

He pointed to his chest:

“Put a button here that says, ‘I am word of mouth.’”

Nader said since others are instigating the conversation, it’s not an intrusion.

“It opens the door. There are 100 ideas like this if we free ourselves from the two-party tyranny.”

The lifelong gadfly grew angrier, like a darkening stormcloud.

He called out “hereditary voters” who fall into line when it comes to the ballot box.

“Do you know what happens to people who aren’t turned onto politics?” he asked. “Politics turns on them. As non-voters, you have the same status as a non-voter in a dictatorship; you’ve accepted slavery status… although you’ve done it for yourselves.”

Political awareness, he said, stems from a fire in the belly.

“The more I learned, more fire I had in my belly. There’s not enough people with fire in their belly to break the routine. You can’t have justice until you break the routine.”

Nader later lobbed grenade after grenade at the status quo, unsettling bombs in sharp, staccato sentences, to attendees at the Charles Wood Theater:

“It’s We the People, not We the Corporations.”

“The press reflects plutocracy, which is to rule us.”

“Americans are poisoning themselves.”

“Eight-hundred people die each week from a lack of health care, 3,200 per month — that’s more than 911.”

“400,000 people per year die from preventative causes — Is this not a kind of institutional terrorism?”

“Corporations have a lust for power — they have no allegiance to us, no loyalty to the community. They control us by building a two-party system that excludes competition. It should be illegal. It’s strategic planning by corporations, yet we’re the only ones who have a vote.”

The above are issues that transcend partisan politics, he said, something he addressed in his most recent book, Unstoppable: The Emerging Left-Right Alliance to Dismantle the Corporate State.

“What are we made of? Why are we taking this?” he asked.

Walking a fine line between disgust and contempt, Nader urged the audience to pretend they were Alabama abolitionists in 1837.

“Our forebears had self-respect,” he said. “They had concern for their children, irreverence for the land… and they had the vote.”

“What are we made of today?”

Western Europe had the cojones to rebuild after WWII, he said.

“We know how to do all of this. They did. What’s our excuse?”

Earlier, he wrung a $2 bill from his wallet and flashed it to supporters.

Signers of the Declaration of Independence are depicted on the back.

“That was signed against the most powerful military in the world,” said Nader. “They thought they were signing their death sentence.”

“Aren’t you glad they showed up? We have to show up, too.”

“HARDER TO GET TO 10 THAN 20”

Nader said the race to replace outgoing Congressman Bill Owens was one of the most pivotal in the country.

Matt Funiciello, he said, was almost the perfect candidate.

“I call him ‘Democracy’s Baker.’ He’s knowledgeable, persuasive, congenial and he shows up. I’ve never seen anyone like Matt.”

Nader commended Funiciello for putting forth concrete ways to improve the upstate economy, including the retention of billions by taxing stock derivatives.

“He believes in single-payer health care, a solution to the present corrupt and bloated system.”

Nader said Funiciello’s positions on local food will revive the upstate economy

“He gets his wheat from upstate New York and one of his platforms is bringing back family agriculture, that’s the wave — community business as a way to displace multinational corporations.”

Nader, who is a political independent, cited last week’s poll that showed Funiciello at 10 percent. Elise Stefanik, a Republican, had 46 percent while Aaron Woolf, a Democrat, had 33 percent.

The firebrand said it is harder for candidates to get to 10 percent then to 20 percent.

Funiciello’s star is now on the rise, he said, citing Jesse Ventura, the pro-wrestler turned Minnesota Governor who got a boost after each debate.

“Matt’s going to go out in those three debates and mop the floor with these people,” said Nader. “One was part of the Bush corporate regime; she ought to be held responsible to explain that. The other fella somehow found his way to the Adirondacks from Brooklyn. I heard he’s good for corn, but it’s a rather devastating product. But they’re not from here.”

Nader deflected when asked about Funiciello possibly acting as a spoiler. Allegations have dogged Nader since the infamous 2000 presidential election that saw George W. Bush emerge victorious over Al Gore in Florida by 537 votes.

Nader, who ran as a Green in that election, garnered over 97,000 votes that the Democratic Party continues to blame on Gore’s loss.

“I’m worried about the Republican candidate and the Democratic candidate taking votes away from Matt,” he told North Country Public Radio’s Brian Mann at a press briefing. “All have a right to run for the election, equally. All are trying to get votes from one another. Therefore all are either spoilers of each other or not spoilers. So once you start with the premise of equality of access, the question is never asked.”

THE GREEN MAN

Funiciello said after he’s elected in November, the next step is to elect 10 more representatives with similiar viewpoints.

“Imagine what a block of 50 independent Congresspeople can do.”

He shared an anecdote about the first time met Nader, 15 years ago during the activist’s second run at the presidency in 2000. Funiciello carpooled with him to a protest march on Wall Street.

"My son was playing little league at the time, he was a catcher,” said Funiciello.

Funiciello said the two talked shop for 20 minutes.

Nader got caught up in his seat belt and Funiciello’s son recognized the irony.

“He gets his sense of humor from his father,” said Funiciello.

Funiciello said he became inspired by the Green Party’s firm decision to eschew corporate funding:

“That ensures only one voice at the table.”

He also said he was “horrified and angered” by Nader’s vilification.

“It brings a tear to my eye”

Funiciello criticized legislators for their lack of foresight and cited an Iroquois tale:

“When you make a decision, make sure you’re making a decision for seven generations.”

He said the impact of 500 legislators have a bigger impact than a single president.

“They have a huge impact through inspiring other people,” he said.

PUBLIC REACTIONS

“It takes a tremendous amount of chutzpah,” said Josh London, Funiciello’s brother. “I’m proud of him and he’s got a lot to say and a lot to offer. It’s just a matter of getting his name and message out there and hearing what he has to say.”

John Thomas, from Hartford, said he was a political independent and liked what Funiciello had to say:

“The two-party system has really embedded itself in our thought process,” he said. “If you vote Republican, they poke your eye. Vote Democrat, they poke you in the other eye.”

Thomas said the media shouldn’t cover early election returns because they discourage voters, many of whom he said are unfamiliar with the issues, from voting.

“The government is telling us what to do instead of us telling them what we want.”

Beth Shropshire, a BOCES staffer from Glens Falls, said she is a Green Party member and plans on voting for Funiciello, citing his background and stance on the issues.

“He’s a local business owner and I’ve supported him as long as I’ve been in town. He’s a big social justice advocate. He uses local produce, so he’s aware of issues related to food. He pays his people a living wage, so he supports labor… and he’s done this for years. That’s integrity.”

Shropshire said the campaign needs to start stepping up its grassroots efforts to prepare for the election, which is seven weeks away.

“You gave to be on the street and get people mobilized. You have to educate while talking to them.”

The educator criticized Citizens United, the Supreme Court decision that allowed for the unfettered flow of capital into outside groups who can independently lobby for political candidates.

“We need the Trustbusters back,” she said. “ I would be really happy to see Teddy Roosevelt channeled through someone.”

“I’m not known for flattery,” said Nader. “You have an exceptional candidate here.”